Cars you seem alone in disliking.

[Shep Shepherd]

The Volvo C30. Driving behind one last night on the Oxford ring road only affirmed how much I hate the model's rear aspect:

 

 

Come back 1800ES, all is forgiven.

[Rhythm Thief]

VW Beetles (the original ones, not the current "Golf in drag" things). They seem so useless: the boot's full of engine and the bonnet's got the fuel tank and battery under it. Yes, you can get four people in the thing, but only if none of them want to take any luggage with them. Citroen and Renault did the cheap small practical car thing so much better.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

...they were nowhere near as dependable as a Beetle, 2CV or even Fiat 500...

 

RLY! You don't see Minors racing all the way from Europe to Africa, and they didn't enjoy anywhere near the export success of the 2CV and Beetle to a lot of places with difficult road/climate conditions (ok, there was the Hindustan, but it was the only car mass-made in India and all imports were taxed to ridiculous levels). Of course, it may have been a coincidence or just poor Morris/BL marketing, but I think the engineering was also not as rugged as the others'.

 

 

I'd beg to differ - minors are pretty tough cars -

 

The reason why you don't see many if any pre 1970 British Cars in Europe is that BMC targetted the commonwealth markets with their cars - it was a captive market and don't forget that we didn't join the EC until 1967 so our exports to Europe were subect to import tax whereas France, Italy, Germany had no barriers to trade. It made economic sense for BMC to sell their cars to tne Commonwealth which, until 1967 was a far more important market to the UK than it is now. You could argue that the restrictions on UK imports to Europe had a devastating effect on the UK car industry in the long term - the captive commnwealth markets were easy pickings whereas the competition in Europe made for manufacturing excellence - check out the youtube vids of the Daf factory in the early 1970's - and compare it to what we were doing at the time. When we had to compete our manufacturing quality wasn't up to the standard.

 

It's all the fault of that bastard De Gaulle, he never forgave us for having to come cap in hand after France fell in 1940 and got his revenge by blocking our application to join the EU in the early 1960's - he hated Britain - ungrateful bastard after all we did.

 

The Minor must have sold well in some African countries, there were still lots of them about in Zimbabwe in the mid 1980s. They were regarded as very strong cars.

[Cavcraft]

Ford Ka. Vile, nasty, rusty, ugly, pointless and a complete waste of cheap tin and 1930's mechanical parts.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I don't actually dislike them, but equally I don't understand the great following the Mk1 Golf has. My mother had a 1.3CL in the 'eighties. It was a worthy but dull thing which drove like a tractor. She replaced it with a Peugeot 309SR. It was so much better; the Peugeot felt like a luxury car after the Golf - smooth, quiet, comfortable and fast. It was cheaper too!

[scooters]

"

 

VW campervans, and all the wannabe VW crap like Commers and BMC J4s.

 

 

BOOOO!

 

what do you mean 'wannabe'? how dare you lob British icons like the Commer, the J4 and the Sherpa in as 'wannabe' Jerry built VAG hippywaggons! The whole point is that you DON'T Wannabe!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Every now and again a car comes along that is both critically acclaimed and loved by the general public. Except you!

 

I honestly think I'm the only person in the world that doesn't like these.

 

You are not alone. I think they are truly disgusting things, a pig ugly wheezing French shitbox driven by Lefty polo neck wearing Guardianista. It's one of those cars we are told ad infinitum is 'great', 'beautiful' (is it fuck - LOOK AT IT!!!) and I just don't see past the melted whale styling, shit interior and tractor engine.

Sorry, but when you can buy stunning old saloons like a steel bumper CX - a really handsome car - for a couple of grand, why the hell would you want a grotesque lurching turd like the DS?

[Rhythm Thief]

 

Never really got these, myself. I'm sure the appeal is in what they can do, rather than how they look, and I've never driven one, but still ... I think they're dog ugly.

[RedSparrow]

Pretty sure I am alone in disliking MK3 onwards Cortinas and Sierras. And Granadas.

[Rhythm Thief]

Pretty sure I am alone in disliking MK3 onwards Cortinas and Sierras. And Granadas.

 

You're not alone ... I hate Fords of all shapes and sizes. Don't know why.

[Justin Case]

I'm pretty sure that I'm alone (well here in any case ) in actively disliking the Alpine, Solara and Horizon. I have spent some time as a passenger in an Alpine when they were just run of the mill secondhand cars, and also in Mark 5 Cortina, Mark 2 Cavalier and one of the last Princesses at about the same time, as well as having driven a Horizon. Compared to the opposition they were flimsy rot-boxes with unsupportive seats, a wallowy ride, rattly engines and hopeless gearchanges.

 

The best of the bunch was a work-mates Cortina Crusader, head and shoulders above anything that Chrysler ever churned out. In fact I wouldn't even mind one of them today

[AnthonyG]

Of all the Cortina 'Marks' I like the Mk3 least of all.

 

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't kick one out of my garage (particularly if it was bargainous like Cavettes) , I just prefer all the other types.

[Pete-M]

I've just remembered another true travesty.

 

The Alfa 33.

 

Absolute shit. Great engine in a car that is way too heavy for it. Driving position obviously not intended for humans, awful gearbox, shit brakes, ugly, lousy seats, and not much in the way of handling and generally a worse car than the 'sud in everything apart from rustproofing - and the early ones still rotted like a 1972 mini left in a field for 20 years.

 

I know there are people out there who won't hear a word against the 33, but I cannot understand the appeal of the things. Maybe it's this whole "It's shit, so we like it" thing. Maybe it's the same as me with the 604 - I like that because my dad had them. Maybe they just don't know any better.

[Cavcraft]

Porsce Boxster. Probably drive really nicely, handle well and go like a bomb. Doesn't stop the owners from looking like sad, middle aged, hairdressing twats who can't afford a 911 though.

[Tayne]

.

[Guest]

I've just remembered another true travesty.

 

The Alfa 33.

 

Absolute shit. Great engine in a car that is way too heavy for it. Driving position obviously not intended for humans, awful gearbox, shit brakes, ugly, lousy seats, and not much in the way of handling and generally a worse car than the 'sud in everything apart from rustproofing - and the early ones still rotted like a 1972 mini left in a field for 20 years.

 

I know there are people out there who won't hear a word against the 33, but I cannot understand the appeal of the things. Maybe it's this whole "It's shit, so we like it" thing. Maybe it's the same as me with the 604 - I like that because my dad had them. Maybe they just don't know any better.

 

Yeah I remember you saying you'd stab me if I turned up at your house in a 33. I won't tell you how close I got to buying a 16v then...

[Cavcraft]

Porsce Boxster. Probably drive really nicely, handle well and go like a bomb. Doesn't stop the owners from looking like sad, middle aged, hairdressing twats who can't afford a 911 though.

 

That annoys me.

 

Firstly, perhaps the owner prefers the look of a car the was designed in relatively recent times and was a convertible to begin with or maybe they prefer the mid-engined layout.

 

Secondly, how many people think you drive a 3-series because you can't afford a 7-series?

 

And finally, having checked down the back of the sofa, I don't have £35k for a new Boxster (or even £12k for an old one) so I don't have a problem with people driving what they can afford. Neither should you.

 

I don't have a problem with anyone driving whatever they like, their money, their choice. It's just that most of the people I've seen driving Boxsters seem to be the same sort of people who buy X5s and MLs. I just don't 'get' why someone would want or buy a Boxster which I think was the idea of the thread.

People can think whatever they like about me driving an old shabby BMW and if they think I can't afford a 7 series that's fine by me. If I ever bought a car to try and impress people I'd give up driving.

[Guest]

Mazda MX-5s.

 

Can someone let me have a go of one that:

 

1. Isn't American spec?

2. Hasn't been put through a hedge backwards?

3. Isn't being sold by D.Stozniac?

 

Ta very much. I may well reform my opinion. Like ham.

[Rusty Pelican]

 

If I ever bought a car to try and impress people I'd give up driving.

Spot on , I cant stand proper Minis or indeed the new ones , Im a minority in this im sure but dont care ,

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

3. Isn't being sold by D.Stozniac?

 

Who he?

[Guest]

3. Isn't being sold by D.Stozniac?

 

Who he?

 

Drew is my mate in the States who let me have a go in some of his 'best stock'. It was bloody awful if I'm honest.

[Tayne]

.

[CreepingJesus]

The Volvo C30. Driving behind one last night on the Oxford ring road only affirmed how much I hate the model's rear aspect:

 

 

Come back 1800ES, all is forgiven.

 

Thankyou! I had a little rant in the GOM thread, about a month ago, after following some coffin dodger down one of my favourite backroads at very low speed. Lots of people take it easy on that road, I can live with that; but only that smiley arseface drove me to spitting fury. Presumably intended to have a nice 'humanistic' face, its' smug beaming is totally counterproductive. I actually wanted to drive right into the back of it.

Funnily enough, I usually see the Boxster as a bit of a non-entity. It might as well have any maker's badge on it, it would be just as unappealing.

[Negative Creep]

I'd love a Boxster, although the fact the engine was designed to make home servicing very difficult rather puts me off. I do drive past a mint green one every day which I think is lovely

[Shep Shepherd]

Thankyou! I had a little rant in the GOM thread, about a month ago, after following some coffin dodger down one of my favourite backroads at very low speed. Lots of people take it easy on that road, I can live with that; but only that smiley arseface drove me to spitting fury. Presumably intended to have a nice 'humanistic' face, its' smug beaming is totally counterproductive. I actually wanted to drive right into the back of it.

 

It really is the worst Volvo ever in my opinion. Given the choice, I'd rather have a 66:

 

[overheadvalve]

VAG SHITE:

The Audi a4, jeez they may, especially in diesel form be pretty good but ffs talk about edam, vag specials i guess but no thanks.

Seats or Skodas why have both? fuck one of them off now! (Seat, who the fuck are they anyway, an old Fiat cast off)

 

The Golf mk1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 etc etc .......They have never appealed to me at all, the old 90bhp diesel engine is still probably the best engined but they just had to "improve" it with the pumpe deuse load of bollocks. I did not like the VR6 either it had great torque but the mpg was for me poor even for a 2.8, mid 20's was all i got at best from mine sadly, i kept that one for 3 weeks.

 

Fords, the Focus all of them "New edge design" my arse, driven a few never owned one though.

Mondeo blandness which even bettered the super bland Toyota Carina and the Avensis.

 

The Honda Civic, all of them, including the Type R, When was torque delete on the options list? Having said that the Renault Clio 172/182 i like, it's so light and revvy, it goes like a bastard with not much torque.

The Honda S2000, same reason, looked like it could have been a great modern sports car but a massive fail to me because you have to rev the tit's off it to beat a Triumph TR6, and it's in insurance group 19.

 

Any modern Ferrari with a loud sports exhaust, rich chavs.

[Shep Shepherd]

Any modern Ferrari with a loud sports exhaust, rich chavs.

 

I consider Ferraris to be fast FIATs, with the associated build quality. Ergo, I have no time for them at all.

[overheadvalve]

Any modern Ferrari with a loud sports exhaust, rich chavs.

 

I consider Ferraris to be fast FIATs, with the associated build quality. Ergo, I have no time for them at all.

 

Quite, couldn't agree more

[Negative Creep]

Any modern Ferrari with a loud sports exhaust, rich chavs.

 

I consider Ferraris to be fast FIATs, with the associated build quality. Ergo, I have no time for them at all.

 

Quite, couldn't agree more

 

 

Maserati for me thanks, all the performance with a lot less "look at me"

[Shep Shepherd]

Maserati for me thanks, all the performance with a lot less "look at me"

 

Much more like it. Put me down for a Quattroporte